Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race - Knowledge Rush

326 Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race[378]finally insists that the bishop shall tell him who the mouse is andwhy the enchantment was laid on the country. “I am Llwyd sonof Kilcoed,” replies the enchanter, “and the mouse is my wife;but that she is pregnant thou hadst never overtaken her.” He goeson with an explanation which takes us back to the first Mabinogiof the Wedding of Rhiannon. The charm was cast on the land toavenge the ill that was done Llwyd's friend, Gwawl son of Clud,with whom Pryderi's father and his knights had played “Badgerin the Bag” at the court of Hevydd Hēn. The mice were the lordsand ladies of Llwyd's court.The enchanter is then made to promise that no furthervengeance shall be taken on Pryderi, Rhiannon, or Manawyddan,and the two spell-bound captives having been restored, the mouseis released. “Then Llwyd struck her with a magic wand, and shewas changed into a young woman, the fairest ever seen.” And onlooking round Manawyddan saw all the land tilled and peopled asin its best state, and full of herds and dwellings. “What bondage,”he asks, “has there been upon Pryderi and Rhiannon?” “Pryderihas had the knockers of the gate of my palace about his neck, andRhiannon has had the collars of the asses after they have beencarrying hay about her neck.” And such had been their bondage.The Tale of Māth Son of MāthonwyThe previous tale was one of magic and illusion in whichthe mythological element is but faint. In that which we havenow to consider we are, however, in a distinctly mythologicalregion. The central motive of the tale shows us the Powers ofLight contending with those of the Under-world for the prizedpossessions of the latter, in this case a herd of magic swine. Weare introduced in the beginning of the story to the deity, Māth, ofwhom the bard tells us that he was unable to exist unless his feetlay in the lap of a maiden, except when the land was disturbed bywar. 238 Māth is represented as lord of Gwynedd, while Pryderi238This is a distorted reminiscence of the practice which seems to haveobtained in the courts of Welsh princes, that a high officer should hold the